Safer Internet Day: One in Four Children Victims of Cyberbullying

A group of fifth-graders in 1995 were surprisingly visionary when it came to predicting the usefulness of the InternetReuters

One in four children are the victims of 'cyberbullying' with some suffering such severe abuse they admit to attempting suicide, according to new research.

The Beatbullying study, published to mark Safer Internet Day, reveals that out of the 4,605 children and young people asked, just over one in four (28%) 11-16-year-olds say they have been the victim of cyberbullying in the UK.

The study, backed by the he National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) found nearly a quarter of these victims of cyberbullying (23 percent) were targeted for more than a year.

In addition, five percent said they had resorted to self-harming and three percent admitted they had attempted suicide, with 14% living saying they live in fear of their safety.

The study revealed that one in five children are reluctant to go to school because of the fear they experience as a result of cyberbullying.

Beatbullying chief executive Emma-Jane Cross said: "Cyberbullying continues to be a dangerous problem for a significant number of young people and we must not ignore its complex and often devastating effects.

"An integrated approach where we see Government, schools, parents, internet service providers and charities like Beatbullying all working together to keep our must vulnerable safe."

The study also found one in 10 teachers have been cyberbullied with almost half of the 339 teachers questioned (48%) said they have heard or witnessed colleagues being harassed.

Cher Lloyd recently revealed she's cried herself to sleep over internet bullies. The singer told BBC's Panorama that online slurs have left her "very scared" and she receives up to 10 tweets a day from people attacking her Romany gypsy heritage.